Device for cinematographic apparatus intended for restoring automatically the lengthof the film loop comprised between the objective and the driving roller



Jan 17, 1959 J. THEVENAZ 2,494,842

DEVICE FOR CINEMATOGRAPHIC APPARATUS INTENDED FOR RESTORING AUTOMATICALLY THE LENGTH OF THE FILM LOOP COMPRISED BETWEEN THE OBJECTIVE AND THE DRIVING ROLLER Filed Feb. 8, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l [NVEN TOR BY v N y g H ATTORNEY Jan. 17, 1950- J. THEVENAZ 2,494,842

, DEVICE FOR CINEMATOGRAPHIC APPARATUS INTENDED FOR RESTORING AUTOMATICALLY THE LENGTH OF THE FILM LOOP COMPRISED BETWEEN THE OBJECTIVE AND THE DRIVING ROLLER Filed Feb. 8, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR D H BY "I r r ATTORNEY v Jean, Thevenaz.

Patented Jan. 17, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT? oFFicEf DEVICE FOR. CINEMATOGRAPHIC APPARA- TUSINTENDED'FOR RESTORING AUTO- MA-TIGALLY THE LENGTH- OF "THE FILM LOOP COMPRISED. BETWEEN THE OBJEC- TIVEAND THE DRIVING ROLLER Jean Thvenaz,. Yverdon, Switzerland, assignor to Paillard" S. A., Sainte-Croix, Switzerland; a corporation of Switzerland Application February; 8, 1949, Serial No. 75,192 In Switzerland April 1, 1948 In the cinematographic apparatus now in'use, the portion of film situated infront of the objective is driven in a jerky. movement by an advancement device including one or several claws meshing with the film perforations. Before and after the objective, the film is .drawn at'constant speed by driving rollers. In order to permit the jerky movement of the film infront of the objective, two elastic loops .are necessary in the path of the film between the objectiveian'd each of the driving rollers.

Now, when as a result of a deterioration of the film between the perforations, the loop decreases in length and becomestoo small forsufficientlyi compensating the differences in the speed of the film on the driving roller and in front of the objective, serious troublefollows. In the first place, the movement is no longer jerky,- and in the second place the film can tear. To avoid such trouble, certain designers have fitted their apparatuswith devices restoring automatically the length of the lower loop.

Some of these devices include a feeler operated by the film when the lower loop reaches a dimensionuwhich is considered too small; The opera-v tion of this feeler provokes the engaging of the two parts of a couplingmechanically connecting the motor of the cinematographic apparatus to an extension organ of the loop formedby the film.

These devices are in general relatively complicated and theypresent dangers to the opera-, tor in case of wrong handling, owing to the fact that the driving energy operatingthe feeler or the extension organ is considerable, because it is directly. supplied bythe motor of the apparatus.

Other known devices include an eccentric roller arranged inside the loopformed by'th'e film and kept,.by a calling back spring in a rest positionfor which its greater radius is situated, in relation to therotation axle, on the side opposite to the loop. When the latter, for a casual reason, decreases in length, the film comes in contact with the roller at theplace of its smallerradius' and drives said roller in rotation around its axle. This axle being-eccentric, it is clear that the rotation of theroller restores the loop to its desired length. This device, of very, simple design and construction, does not, however, givefull satisfaction, because the resultingdrawing force acting on the film, as well as the value of the rollers driving torque, are veryvariable, and for certain positions of the roller, are even unfavourable for the working of the device. In addition, to meet the operating requirements, the overall dimensions of the device are considerable.

The present invention relates to a device forcinematographic apparatus intended for restoring automatically the length of the loop'formed by the film betweenthe objective and the driving 7 roller and including, for the loop, a restoring Fig. 1 is apart side view of a cinematographic apparatus fitted with the device in accordance with a first form of execution, said device being in the rest position."

Fig. 2iis .a partcross-section view along the line n?n of Fig. 1.

Fig. '3 is apart cross-section View along the line III-III of Fig.1.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to that'of Fig. 1, the device being in aposition corresponding to that occupied atthe end of its working.

Fig-5'is a view of a first alternative execution of the device shown on Fig. 1.

Fig. dis a view of a second form of execution of the. device.

Fig. '7 is a cross-section view of same along the line VII-VII of Fig. 6,

Figs. 8 to 12 are views of five other forms of execution of the device shown on Fig. 1.

Fig. 13 is a cross-section view along the line XIII-XIII of Fig.'12.

According to the attached drawing, and like most known cinematographic apparatus, the one partly, shown has a frame I (see Figs. 1 and i) carryingthe various organs necessary for shooting or projecting. The film 2 coming from a reel,

which is not shown, passes "on a first'sprocket 3 driven in rotation at constant speed by the motor (notshown) of the apparatus. The film 2 then passes in guides 4 arranged on either side of a gate 5 intended to keep the portion of film situated in front. of the objective 6 in a well defined position in relation to the latter In the gate 5 act the claws (not shown) driving the film in a jerky translation movement.

When leavingthe passage 5; the film 2 is again taken'up by a second sprocket I driven in rotation at constant speed by the motor of the 3 apparatus. Between each sprocket 3, 1 and the objective 6, the film forms a loop. The device intended to restore the length of the lower loop is arranged between the objective 6 and the second sprocket I, because only the loop formed by the film when leaving the passage 5 decreases in length when, for a casual reason (such, for instance, as a deterioration of the film between the perforations), the advancement device of the film no longer provokes the jerky advancing of the film portion situated in front of the objective.

In the form of execution shown on Figs. 1 to 4, this device includes a revolving organ I3 consisting of a roller fitted with teeth I4 intended to mesh with the film perforations when a decrease in length of the lower loop formed by the film leaving the gate 5 occurs.

This roller is mechanically connected to the frame I by mechanical elements imparting, when it is driven in rotation by the film, a translation movement to its rotation axle. For this purpose the roller I3 is pivoting on an axle I2 carried by a lever I hinged at H to the frame I and subjected to the action of a spring IT. The latter tends to keep the profile of a cam I5, fastened to the roller I3, in contact with a finger I6 fixed to the frame I.

The working of the described device is very simple. When the lower loop formed by the film 2 decreases in length, the film comes in contact with the roller I3 (position shown in dash and dot lines on Fig. 1) and the teeth I4 mesh with the film perforations. The latter, drawn at constant linear speed by the sprocket 1, drives the roller I3 in a counter clockwise rotation movement around the axle I2. The cam I5 fixed to the roller I3 is also driven in rotation and its profile acts in conjunction with the finger I6. In consequence, the rotation axis of the roller I3 is displaced in a way parallel to itself against the action of the calling back spring I! and makes an arc of circle of which the centre is at II. During this translation displacement, the roller I3 pulls the film 2 through the gate 5.

After a rotation of about half a turn of the roller I3 around its axle I2, the cam I5 occupies the position shown on Fig. 4 and the roller I3 occupies its extreme lower position for which the length of the loop formed by the film is restored. When afterwards the finger I6 escapes from the profile of the cam I5, the calling back spring I1 causes a rocking of the lever II] in a clockwise direction and brings back the whole of the device in its rest position, shown on Fig. 1.

It is clear that after the above described restoring of the length of the loop, the cinematographic apparatus can again work normally, because the damaged portion of film, which was situated at the place of the claws, has been replaced by the following portion.

Practical tests made on a cinematographic apparatus fitted with the described device have proved that the latter can be easily achieved in overall dimensions small enough to permit its easy placing on a cinematographic projection apparatus or shooting camera and in addition, that the working of the described device is generally perfect.

In the alternative form of execution of the Fig. 5, the finger I6 is carried by an auxiliary lever hinged on I8 to the frame I. This lever 20 is subjected to the action of a spring I9 tending to keep the finger IS in contact with the profile of the cam I5. The rest position of the lever 20 is defined by a stop 2|.

The working of this safety device is as followsi When the resistance offered by the film to its advancement reaches, for a casual reason, a value considered dangerous for the film, the cam slides over the finger I6 and pushes back the latter against the action of its spring I9. The lever I0 can then remain in a fixed angular position, or even rock in a clockwise direction in spite of the angular displacement of the roller I3 around its axle I2.

In the form of execution shown on Figs. 6 and 7, the roller I3 and the cam I 5 are carried by the axle I2 which has an extension |2a engaged in a port 2| made in the wall of the frame I. This port constitutes a guide for the translation displacements of the axle I2. A calling back spring 22, acting on the axle I2, tends to keep it in contact with the end 23 of the port 2| which defines the rest position of the device.

The axial position of the axle I2 is defined by the cam I5 and a collar 24 resting respectively on either side of the wall of the frame.

The roller I 3 has conical jaws 25 between which the film goes jamming.

When the roller I3 is driven in rotation by the film 2, the profile of the cam I5 acts in conjunction with the finger I6 and pushes back the axle I2 which slides inside the port 2| against the action of the spring 22.

In the form of execution in accordance with Fig. 8, the roller I3 is carried by the axle I2 engaged in the port 2| and subjected to the action of a spring, in exactly the same way as in the form of execution of the Figs. 6 and 7. However, the cam I 5 and the finger I5 are here replaced by a connecting rod 26 hinged to the frame I by means of a pivot 21 and to the roller I3 by means of a journal 28 eccentrically fixed on the roller I3. This journal 28 fastened on one of the front faces of the roller I3 constitutes a crank in relation to the axle I2. It is clear that in an alternative design, this journal 28 could be carried by an arm fastened to the roller I3.

In the form of execution in accordance with Fig. 9, the roller I3 revolves on an axle I2 carried by a lever 3| hinged on 32 to the frame I and subjected to the action of a spring 29. A stop 30 defines the rest position of the lever 3|. In addition, the roller I3 is connected to the frame by means of a connecting rod 26 hinged on 2! to the frame I and at 28 to the roller I3. This form of execution is in fact a combination of the forms of execution shown on Figs. 1 and 8.

In an alternative design, each of the connecting rods 26 and 3| could be hinged to the roller by means of a journal having an eccentric position in relation to the rotation axle of the roller I3.

In the form of execution in accordance with Fig. 10, the roller I3 rolls on the axle 12 carried by the lever I0 subjected to the action of the spring IT. The latter tends to keep a finger 34, eccentrically fixed to the roller I3, in contact with the profile of a cam 33 rigidly fixed to the frame I. The working of this form of execution is similar to that of the device shown on Fig. 1.

In the form of execution in accordance with Fig. 11, the roller I3 is carried by the axle I2 engaged in the port 2| and subjected to the action of a spring in the same Way than with the form of execution of Figs. 6 and '7. However, the axle I2 carries a cog 35 co-axial to the axle I2 and fastened to the roller I3. This cog is in mesh with a rack 36 rigidly fixed to the frame I and parallel with the port 2|.

In an alternative design, the rack could be replaced by a cog and the roller l3 could be carried by an arm subjected to the action of a spring and pivoting on the frame in the axis of the said cog.

In the form of execution in accordance with Figs. 12 and 13, the roller I3 is carried by the axle 42 which revolves in a bearing 31 arranged at the end of a lever 38 hinged to the frame I by means of a pivot 39. This axle 12 carries a drum All fastened to the roller l3 and co-axial to the latter. On the periphery of this drum is fixed one of the ends of an elastic band 41, of which the other end is rigidly fixed to the frame i. It is clear that the driving in rotation of the roller 13 by the film provokes an unrolling of the band 4| and therefore a displacement of the axle i2 against the elastic action of the band along an arc of circle having the pivot 39 as centre.

The device in accordance with the invention can be designed and achieved in many other manners and only a few typical forms of execution have been described here by way of example and with reference to the attached drawing.

I claim:

1. In a cinematographic apparatus comprising a frame an objective, a driving sprocket for the film, a film loop between said objective and said driving sprocket, a device for restoring the length of said film loop including a restoring sprocket normally kept out of mesh with said film and engageable with and to be operated by said film when for a casual. reason the length of said film loop decreases, means supporting said restoring sprocket and movably mounted on said frame, yieldable means connected to said supporting means and frame and urging said restoring sprocket to a predetermined position disengaged from said film loop, a restoring member connected to said restoring sprocket and reacting against the frame and upon engagement of said film loop with said restoring sprocket moving same from its predetermined position to thereby lengthen the loop.

2. In a cinematographic apparatus comprising a frame an objective, a driving sprocket for the film, a film loop between said objective and said driving sprocket, a device for restoring the length of said film loop including a restoring sprocket normally kept out of mesh with said film and engageable with and to be operated by said film when for a casual reason the length of said film loop decreases, an axle for said restoring sprocket and urged to a predetermined position, a restoring member connected to said restoring sprocket and operable upon engagement of said restoring sprocket with said film loop to move said sprocket and said axle from its predetermined position to thereby lengthen the film loop.

3. In a cinematographic apparatus comprising a frame an objective, a driving sprocket for the film, a film loop between said objective and said driving sprocket, a device for restoring the length of said film loop including a restoring sprocket normally kept out of mesh with said film and engageable with and to be operated by said film when for a casual reason the length of said film loop decreases, an axle for said restoring sprocket, means guiding said axle along a predetermined path, yieldable means urging the axle to a predetermined position on said path, and a restoring member revolving about said axle and connected to the restoring sprocket and reacting on the frame.

4. In. a cinematographic apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which said restoring member is a cam element and a finger element is mounted on the frame and the yieldable means urges one of said elements to engage the other.

5. In a cinematographicapparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which said guiding means in a lever fulcrumed to said frame and connected to said restoring sprocket and the restoring member is a connecting rod pivoted at one end to said frame and at the other end eccentrically to said restoring sprocket.

6. In a cinematographic apparatus as claimed in claim 3 and wherein the yieldable means is connected to the frame and the means guiding the axle.

7. In a cinematographic apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which said guiding means include a lever hinged to the frame of said apparatus, and the axle is carried by said lever, said restoring member revolving on said axle.

8. In a cinematographic apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which said guiding means include a guide fastened on the frame of said apparatus, the yieldable means is fastened on the axle of said restoring sprocket, said yieldable means and said guide cooperating one with the other.

9. In a device as claimed in claim 2 and comprising two connecting rods both hinged to the frame and the restoring sprocket, one of said connecting rods carrying said restoring sprocket concentrically and the other eccentrically connected to the restoring sprocket.

JEAN THEVENAZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,332,079 Hoehn Oct. 19, 1943 2,407,795 Nelson Sept. 17, 1946 2318,361 McNabb Apr. 1, 1947 2,434,355 Fairbanks Jan. 13, 1948 

